Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-12-09
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.


RICHMOND, Va, Dec. Sth.-The Lsgisle.
tive wheels are not yet creased, so to speak,
and it will be several days before the body
will settle down regularly to work. About
the first bill introduced in either branch of
the General Assembly this session was the
the Corporation Court OF the city of Alexan-
dria and it ia understood that similar bills
affecting the salaries of the judges of other
cities of the Commonwealth will follow in
regular order. have talked with number
OF the legislators upon the subject of increas-
Jig the salaries of all the judges in the State
and as far as | can see there ia strong dis.
position among the members to vote for such
/ measure if there is any possibility of the
money being forthcoming. 1t has been the
opinion of every legislature that has assem-.
bled during the past eight years that the
Judges in this State are the most poorly paid
officials oil all, taking into consideration the
dignity and the Importance attached to the
office.
The Petersburg Normal School embroglio
may, perhaps, end in g legislative inyesti.
CATION. Langston, who, by the way, is re-.
garded here as the most intelligent repre-
sentative of his race in this State, has some
bitter enemies, and, to use the language OF
one who seems to be opposed to him, "he
has hard road to travel" The Petersburg
Normal School has had many drawbacks in
the way of bad officials eince it was estab-
| lished, and it remains to be seen whether
any such officers are yet remaining there.
Delegate Curtis. of Richmond, is very
anxious to amend the pilot laws of Virginia,
and four years ago, when he served his first
term in the House. he made big fight in
this direction. Mr. Curtis's reelection this
year has caused parties interested in pilot
boats to come here early, 80 as to be on
the ground when Mr.. Curtis again
introduces the bill which put them
upon their mettle four years ago, and which
did not lack very many votes of becoming
law. Mr.. Curtis thinks the pilot boat peo'
pie are nothing more than thorns in the
side of Virgnia's commercial prosperity OF
course the Norfolk and Portsmouth dele
gates will vote against any bill looking to
4 repeal of the law as suggested by Mr.. Cur
i It's, because it will take employment away
/ from the crews of the pilot boats wholive in
/ these two cities by the sea. If l am not
mistaken think the city OF Alexandria IL
interested in this matter, in the same way
that The city of Richmond is. Whether it
is pro or con will have to be determined by a
majority in the General Assembly.
There is marked difference between the
feeling of the legislators now upon the debt
question from what it was during the extra
session when the joint commission was APP
pointed to confer with the representatives
of the council of foreign bondholdera Some
members ere so overjoyed at the recent de-
cision of the United States Supreme Court
in the Virginia habeas corpus cases that
they are ready and willing to scale the prin-
cipal OF the debt down little lower than is
set forth in the Riddleberger bill. Those
who talk this wey, however. have hereto
fore been tainted with reputation. as Mr..
Royal, the counsel for ths bondhoders, has
asked for an extension of time in regard to
the enforcement Of the Act of May l2.h,
1887, the reputation tainted delegates are
disposed to wait awhile before proposing
any debt schemes. B. 7. o.